From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday ,raided some hostels at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, at midnight and arrested 69 students for alleged internet fraud.
Findings showed that the operatives of the anti-graft agency, who arrived the area around 1 a.m in their official vehicles and branded jackets, forcefully broke into the hostels and started arresting students.
A student, who stays in the SuperB hostel, said officials of the EFCC,came and started hitting doors, asking people to open up. She said they couldn’t take all the arrested students in their buses.
She said, “when they came to my room, they asked me to switch on the light;asked for my man and checked the toilet and kitchen, then left. They came back and asked me to switch off my phone and they left again.”
The Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university has sent delegates to the office of the EFCC, saying,”we want to be sure of the numbers of our students who were arrested by the operatives.
“We want to be sure that our students are not unduly harassed or intimidated nor abused. The management has mandated us to go to Ibadan and find out because the welfare of students is important to us. We want to go and see by ourselves so that we can come back and give the management the necessary feedback.
“We are just going there now, it is not only our students that are outside Ife, so we wouldn’t want a situation where people will say all those that were arrested are our students whereas maybe some of them are not our students. We want to know who we want to fight for, who we want to defend and protect,” Olarewaju said.
Findings showed that students protested to the office of EFCC in Ibadan where they were dispersed by the operatives.
On the social media handle of the anti-graft agency, it posted that “operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 69, suspected internet fraudsters in Osun State.
“They were arrested on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities. Credible intelligence linked Oduduwa Estate with the activities of suspected internet fraudsters.
The suspects are: Dankuwo Eniola Erioluwa, Mustapha Monsuru Oluwanisola, Adeyeye Timilehin Ebenezer, Toromade Hammed Adedeji, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, Adeleye Olumuyiwa Emmanuel, Oluwasakin Moyosore Favour, Olubini Pere Michael, Oluwadara Emmanuel Benny, Gbadamosi Okikola Omotola, Okusipe Tobiloba Paul, Nnekwelugo Enaemeka, Aghwaritoma Wisdom, Adesina Gbolahan Khalid and Micheal Olugoke Oluwaseun.
Others are Obafemi Joshua Mayowa, Eronmonsele Anthony Igberaese, Salau Oluwawumi, Jaiyeola Yinka Temitope, Ajayi Ayodeji Olanrenwaju, Oguntade Oluwabukunmi David, Abdulmumini Abdulsamad, Tolulope Oduola Folaranmi, Kayode Abdulraheem Ajuwon, Akinyemi Oluwagbenro Aduragbemi, Ayodeji Olumose Adedeji, Alawode Femi Segun, Junaid Hafiz Adeyinka, Akolade Oladele Sunday, Oyeniyi Banji Andrew, Oladusu Lanrinde Morakinyo, Ojo John Ifeoluwa, Akwuaka Tochukwu Blaise and Ogunleye Daniel Ayobami and Adebowale Omodesire Diekola.
The rest are: Arekemase Olayinka Ridwan, Ajigbolamu Ayomide Ademola, Asegun David Damola, Adibe Elvis Ebubechukwu, Ohakanu Chidubem, Adeoye Mayowa Irejah, Adesokan Charles Adekunle, Olorunfemi Isaac Oladimeji, Odeyemi Femi Victor, Alimi Ajibola Akorede, Okeke Ifaenyi Francis, Fawehinmi Ayomide Simeon, Soniola Olumide Elijah, Yahaya Isah Salihu, Daramola Junia Olamide, Agbabikaka Mojuolaoluwa and Kingsley Ejike Nweake.
Others are: Camara Abdullahi, Aminu Kehinde, Bayo Adegoke Iyanuoluwa, Alao Kolawale Oluwaseun, Oloruntoba Oluwatosin Adeniyi, Idowu Philip Oluwaseun, Maiye Daniel Olasile, Oyelami Peter OLuwaseyi, Emmanuel Nsochukwu, Komolafe Tosin, Praise Izuagie, Umehidi Obinna, Olujulo Lucas Ifeoluwa, Omejeh Stanley, Latilo Tolu, Oluwaseun Akinrelere and Great Onufomah.
“Items recovered include exotic cars, 190 mobile phones, and 40 laptops among others.
“The suspects, have made useful statements to the EFCC and will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC said.
Meanwhile, students the University OAU stormed the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to protest the arrest of their colleagues by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
It was gathered that the students,who came in three Coaster buses and three Hummer buses, were said to have stormed the commission’s office to secure the release of their arrested colleagues.
It was also gathered that the protesting students were led by the leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
This was even as the institution’s management said that there had not been any communication between the anti-grant agency and the institution alleging or accusing any of its students of financial crime.
No fewer than 70 students of the institution were reportedly arrested by officials of the commission (EFCC) in a midnight raid on off-campus hostels on Wednesday.
“According to our sources, the students were seen being marched into a white Hummer bus, which was one of the six vehicles on their entourage, under the supervision of some security officials, heading towards Ibadan,” the student said.
However, the institution’s management said that investigation into the reported arrest of the students was ongoing.